United News of Bangladesh

The Power Division has prioritised the energy sector as a key focus area as it moves to meet the country’s rising electricity demand in summer amid growing global uncertainties. The country currently has a total installed power generation capacity of 32,332 MW, including 28,919 MW from grid-based sources, while daily demand stands at around 14,500-15,000 MW, according to an official document. However, as the sweltering heat of summer approaches, the stability of the national grid faces a complex set of challenges. Despite having sufficient capacity to meet existing demand, the national grid is expected to come under pressure during the peak summer months, when consumption surges and localised outages become more frequent. These disruptions are largely driven by maintenance requirements, storm damage, and infrastructure limitations in the transmission and distribution networks. A significant hurdle remains the supply of primary fuel. The global energy market has become increasingly volatile due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has complicated the procurement and pricing of energy resources. This international instability trickles down to the local level, making it difficult at times to sustain full supply during the highest consumption hours. In response, the Power Division is implementing a 180-day action plan aligned with the government's election manifesto. This strategy includes diversifying energy sources with a heavy emphasis on renewable energy and coordinating infrastructure development with new generation projects. Beyond technical solutions, the government is focusing on-demand side management. Efforts include holiday staggering for industries and public awareness campaigns through leaflets and videos to encourage energy conservation. By combining short, medium, and long-term planning with intensive project supervision, the Power Division aims to navigate the current global energy crisis while ensuring that the lights stay on for citizens throughout the rising summer temperatures. According to the official document, the government has taken steps to increase power generation in line with the increase in power demand. These included taking the power sector as the highest priority sector, diversifying energy sources for power generation, ensuring primary energy supply for power generation and formulating a 180-day action plan in light of the government's election manifesto. It has also taken steps for formulating and implementing short, medium and long-term plans for power generation, construction/development of transmission and distribution infrastructure in coordination with power generation, campaigning (leaflets, videos) to increase consumer awareness on energy conservation, holiday staggering and demand side and supply side management, etc, and giving importance to power generation from renewable energy. The Power Division has also taken steps for ensuring necessary financing for the power sector in the annual development programme and timely implementation of power projects through intensive supervision and quickly identifying and resolving problems in project implementation.

Ahead of the election in Sherpur-3 (Sreebardi-Jhenaigati) constituency scheduled for April 9, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has deployed its 16 platoons to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful voting process. Following directives from the Election Commission, BGB personnel will serve as mobile and static forces from five days before the election to two days after the polls to maintain law and order. According to a press release issued by the BGB Mymensingh Battalion (39 BGB), under the supervision of the Mymensingh sector, the deployed platoons have established four base camps across Sreebardi and Jhenaigati upazilas to carry out their duties. Given that Sherpur-3 is a bordering constituency, the BGB presence has been strengthened, with personnel on the frontier also providing support to election areas as needed. The Sherpur-3 election, originally scheduled for February 12, was postponed following the death of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Nuruzzaman Badal. As per the revised schedule, voting will be held on April 9.

A U.S. service member who went missing after Iran shot down an F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet on Friday has been rescued, President Donald Trump announced on social media Sunday. A second crew member had been rescued earlier. Trump said the rescued aviator was injured but “will be just fine.” He described a massive search-and-rescue operation involving “dozens of aircraft” and 24-hour monitoring of the service member’s location. This was the first U.S. aircraft lost in Iranian territory since the conflict began in late February. The downing occurred amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. Trump renewed his threat for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Monday or face severe retaliation. In response, Iran’s Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi warned that the “doors of hell will be opened” on U.S. and Israeli infrastructure in the region. Meanwhile, a second U.S. aircraft, an A-10 attack jet, also went down, though details of its crew and crash site remain unclear. Iranian state media said it was struck in the Persian Gulf. Efforts to negotiate a ceasefire are ongoing, with Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt mediating talks. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Tehran’s willingness to attend Islamabad-hosted talks. The proposed plan would halt hostilities to allow a diplomatic settlement. The conflict, involving U.S.-Israel strikes on Iranian infrastructure, has killed over 1,900 people in Iran, more than 1,400 in Lebanon, dozens in Gulf Arab states and the West Bank, and 13 U.S. service members. Iran has also threatened strategic waterways, including the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a major global shipping route. The situation remains volatile as both sides continue air and missile operations, raising international concerns over civilian casualties and regional escalation.

Government-imposed austerity measures – featuring revised office hours and shorter business operations – came into effect on Sunday as the country moves to curb energy consumption amid the ongoing Middle East crisis. Under the new schedule, all government and private offices will operate till 4:00pm starting at 9:00am, while markets, retail outlets and shopping malls must close by 6:00pm. In line with the government’s directive, Bangladesh Bank has adjusted the office and transaction hours for all scheduled banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs). These institutions will remain open from 10:00am to 5:00pm, with customer transactions allowed between 10:00am and 3:00pm. Trading on the capital market will now end at 2:00pm, half an hour earlier than usual, after opening at 10:00am. A decision on implementing an energy-saving plan in educational institutions is still pending. Officials said the matter will be finalised following consultations with relevant stakeholders. Meanwhile, emergency services have been kept outside the purview of the new office schedule. These include essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas and other fuels, along with fire service, port operations, sanitation, telecommunications and postal services. Healthcare services, including hospitals, doctors, medical staff, as well as vehicles transporting medicines and equipment, and the media, will also continue to operate without disruption.

A total of 56 more children, showing symptoms consistent with measles, were admitted to hospitals across 10 districts of Khulna division in the 24 hours till Saturday afternoon. During the period, two children died in Kushtia Medical College Hospital while undergoing treatment with such symptoms. Of the new suspected measles patients, 13 were hospitalised in Satkhira, 12 in Kushtia, six in Khulna, five each in Jashore, Magura and Narail, three each in Chuadanga and Jhenaidah, and two each in Meherpur and Bagerhat,. Currently, over 300 children are receiving treatment at hospitals across the division, according to the Khulna Divisional Health Director’s office.

Barcelona came from behind to defeat 10-man Atletico Madrid 2-1 away and strengthen their grip at the top of La Liga after Real Madrid suffered a late defeat to Mallorca on Saturday. Atletico took the lead at Metropolitano Stadium through Giuliano Simeone in the 39th minute, but Marcus Rashford equalized just three minutes later. The hosts were reduced to 10 men in first-half stoppage time when Nico González was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Barcelona capitalised on the advantage late in the match, with Robert Lewandowski scoring the winner in the 87th minute, converting a rebound off a save by goalkeeper Juan Musso. The Catalan club has now won eight of its last nine matches in all competitions and moved seven points clear of second-placed Real Madrid in the league standings. Atletico remain fourth, 19 points off the lead. Earlier, Real Madrid lost 2-1 to Mallorca after conceding in stoppage time. Manu Morlanes gave Mallorca the lead in the 42nd minute before Éder Militão equalized in the 88th minute on his return from injury. Vedat Muriqi netted the winner one minute into added time. Elsewhere, Real Sociedad beat Levante 2-0, while Real Betis were held to a goalless draw by Espanyol.

Thousands of hectares of boro paddy in Sunamganj’s haor areas are under threat as severe waterlogging triggered by unusually heavy upstream rainfall continues to inundate croplands across the district. The situation has turned critical since the last week of March when excessive rainfall in upstream catchment areas caused rivers to swell and overflow, sending water rushing into the low-lying haors. Farmers are now locked in a dispute over how to manage the excess water. While those in the upper haors are pressing to cut embankments to ease waterlogging, downstream farmers are resisting the move, fearing their fields will be submerged. According to official data, at least 1,189 hectares of boro land have already gone under water. Sources at the Water Development Board (WDB) said 710 Project Implementation Committees (PICs) were formed this season across 53 haors to construct crop protection embankments. Although earthwork has been completed turfing is still underway in many areas. Rainfall data shows a sharp increase this year, with Sunamganj recording around 200 millimetres of rain in March compared to just 5 millimetres during the same period last year. “The excessive rainwater from upstream has overflowed rivers and entered haors from multiple points,” said a senior WDB official. An emergency meeting held by the district administration on March 31 was followed by field inspections to assess drainage requirements. Khulna division reports 56 suspected measles cases in 24 hours Authorities have so far cut embankments in at least 10 haors on a limited scale to release trapped water. However, tensions among farmers persist. “If farmers in the upper areas cut the dams, those downstream resist to protect their crops,” said Md Selim, a resident of Mohanpur village in Sunamganj Sadar upazila. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), boro has been cultivated on 223,511 hectares in more than 200 haors in the district this season. “If fully harvested, the crop could yield around 1.4 million tonnes of rice, with an estimated market value of Tk 5,050 crore,” said DAE Deputy Director Md Omar Faruk. “But farmers now fear significant losses due to waterlogging and the possibility of further heavy rainfall,” he said. Waterlogging has already affected several haors, including Mini Pagnar, Halir, Kailani, Chhayar, Putiyar, Dakuar, Joalbhanga and Kanlar. Local farmers complained that many natural drainage canals have been encroached upon or filled up over the years, worsening the situation. Chittaranjan Talukder, vice-president of Haor Banchao Andolan, said early and intense rainfall has overwhelmed the natural water bodies. “Rivers, canals and beels that usually act as reservoirs are already full and overflowing. Waterlogging is widespread, and farmers are struggling to cope,” he said. adding that proper dredging of rivers and wetlands could help mitigate the crisis. WDB Executive Engineer Mamun Howlader said emergency drainage   efforts are underway. “Rainfall in both Cherrapunji and Sunamganj has been significantly higher this year. Some haors are already being drained,” he said. Officials warned that the situation may worsen, with heavy rainfall forecast for April 6–7. “As the season progresses timely intervention is crucial to prevent large-scale crop losses,” said Omar Faruk. With uncertainty looming, haor farmers are now anxiously waiting for effective measures to save their standing crops.

At least 30 universities in Iran have been affected by US and Israeli strikes since the start of the war, authorities said, as attacks increasingly hit infrastructure linked to research, health and industry. Iran’s Minister of Science, Research and Technology Hossein Simaei Saraf said parts of dozens of universities have been damaged since fighting began on February 28. The latest strike hit the Laser and Plasma Research Institute at Shahid Beheshti University in Tehran on Friday, leaving the facility in ruins. There were no casualties at the university as classes had already been moved online, though nearby dormitories sustained minor damage. Iranian officials condemned the attack, calling it a blow to scientific research and academic security. Other institutions, including Iran University of Science and Technology and the Pasteur Institute in Tehran, have also been hit. The World Health Organization said the Pasteur Institute sustained significant damage, disrupting its ability to provide health services, though no deaths were reported. The escalation comes as US and Israeli forces widen their strikes beyond military targets to include economic and industrial infrastructure. Heavy bombardment in the southern city of Mahshahr damaged refineries, while Iranian authorities reported casualties. Iranian officials say more than 2,000 people have been killed in attacks on civilian areas, including homes, schools and businesses, though the figures could not be independently verified. Meanwhile, tensions remain high over the Strait of Hormuz, with Washington warning of further action if Iran does not reopen the key shipping route. Tehran has vowed retaliation, raising fears of a broader regional escalation.

Iran has warned it will target US and Israeli infrastructure if attacks against it intensify, amid growing regional tensions following fresh threats and military actions. Gen. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi, commander of Iran’s joint military command, said Saturday that Iran would strike all infrastructure used by the US military in the region as well as Israeli facilities if aggression escalates. His remarks were carried by Iranian state media. The warning came hours after former US President Donald Trump urged Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning of severe consequences if it failed to comply. “Time is running out — 48 hours before all hell will reign down on them,” Trump said on social media, reiterating an earlier deadline. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli forces had launched new strikes on Iranian targets. In a video statement, he said Israel had attacked petrochemical facilities after previously damaging Iran’s steel production capacity. The Israeli military said its air force struck a petrochemical complex in Mahshahr in southwestern Iran earlier on Saturday, alleging the site was used to produce materials for explosives, ballistic missiles, and other weaponry. “I promised that we will continue to act against the regime in Tehran, and that is exactly what we are doing,” Netanyahu said.

Eight platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have been deployed to maintain law and order for the Bogura-6 (Sadar) by-election scheduled to be held on April 9. According to a BGB handout issued on Saturday, the deployment aims to ensure that the by-election is held in a free, fair, impartial and peaceful manner. As per the instructions of the Election Commission, BGB personnel will remain on duty in the constituency until April 11. The eight platoons, drawn from BGB’s Naogaon Battalion (16 BGB) and Patnitala Battalion (14 BGB), have already begun their duties by setting up three base camps in Bogura Sadar upazila. BGB members will be deployed as both mobile and static forces to maintain overall law and order, including conducting patrols before, during and after the election. BGB said it regularly assists the civil administration in maintaining internal law and order across the country. As part of this role, its members will work in coordination with other law enforcement agencies during the by-election. The force expressed hope that voters will be able to cast their votes without hindrance and that the election will be conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner. The by-election was necessitated after the Bogura-6 seat fell vacant as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman relinquished the seat while retaining the Dhaka-17 constituency.